NY congressman Peter King to step into boxing ring

WASHINGTON (AP) — Congressman Peter King of New York is lacing up his boxing gloves for a fight that has nothing to do with budget cuts.

The 68-year-old Republican is known more for his bare-knuckle politics than his pugilistic skills. He plans to step into the ring Saturday for a two-round exhibition bout against a New York state light heavyweight kickboxing champion, "Irish" John Foley, at a pub in Wantagh, N.Y.

King says he weighs in at about 230 pounds and has been training for about nine years.

The congressman jokes that while he plans to throw real punches, Foley will probably throw "sort-of-real punches."

King says that back in 1991 he boxed with former pro Seamus McDonagh in an exhibition bout on the 20th anniversary of the first Joe Frazier-Muhammad Ali fight.